Open roof construction for a vehicle

Abstract

 An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof (3), comprising a front roof element (1) as well as a rear roof element (2) positioned rearwards thereof. The front roof element is a so-called "topslider" type roof element, which is supported by a supporting device (10) comprising a guiding device (14) for engagement in a rear longitudinal guide upon rearward movement of the front roof element. The rear longitudinal guide (16) is mounted on the rear roof element (2), which is fitted with a rear operating mechanism (11) for moving the rear roof element at least to a ventilating position, in which it slopes upwards to the rear. The rear operating mechanism can be operated while the guiding device (14) of the front roof element (1) is positioned in the rear longitudinal guide.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an open roof construction in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such an open roof construction is known, for example from DE-C-42 38 944, DE-C-42 38 945, WO-A-98/14342 or WO-A-00/29235.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a new open roof construction of the kind referred to in the introduction.

[0004] In order to accomplish that objective, the open roof construction according to the invention is characterized by the features defined in the characterizing portion of claim 1.

[0005] The possibility to open the second, rear roof element while the first, front roof element occupies a rearward position appears to provide an effective remedy against the so-called "booming" effect which may occur when the first roof element is opened. The opening of the rear element influences the Helmholtz resonance frequency of the vehicle interior. Amongst other things said resonance may cause the booming effect. Said effect can be eliminated by opening the rear roof element to a greater or smaller extent. An additional or other advantage of the possibility to open the rear roof element is the fact that any rear passengers of the vehicle will thus have their own ventilating possibility.

[0006] It is noted that it is known per se to open the rear panel of an open roof construction comprising two panels arranged one behind another while the front panel occupies a rearward position (see DE-A-38 01 881, for example). The roof element that is disclosed therein, however, is not a front "topslider" element which is guided in a guide which is fixed to the rear roof element.

[0007] The opening of the rear roof element can take place manually or automatically. The latter is especially advantageous with a view to counteracting the booming effect. It is thereby possible, for example, to use a sensor for measuring vibrations or sound (microphone) as an input signal used for controlling the rear roof element. Furthermore it is possible to couple the two operating mechanisms and to make the movement of the rear roof element (mechanically) dependent on the movement of the front roof element.

[0008] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, which schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the open roof construction according to the invention.

[0009] Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are schematic representations of the possibilities of movement of the embodiment of the open roof construction according to the invention, showing three different positions thereof.

[0010] Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are comparable views of the roof of Figs. 1 - 3 in the same positions thereof, wherein the operating mechanisms for the open roof construction are shown, however.

[0011] The drawing, and first Figs. 1 - 3, show an embodiment of the open roof construction according to the invention, which comprises two roof elements, the front roof element of which is of the type which is called a "topslider" in practice. With such a roof type, a roof element can be moved rearwards from its closed position in the roof opening to a position above the roof element that is disposed therebehind, wherein the roof element is supported by a supporting element, which is guided by a roof rail, for example.

[0012] The roof that is shown in Figs. 1 - 3 comprises two movable roof elements, viz. a front roof element 1 and a rear roof element 2. The two roof elements 1, 2 preferably comprise a rigid and at least partially transparent panel, which is made of glass or a plastic, for example. It is also possible, of course, for only one of the two roof elements 1, 2 to be transparent. The roof construction may also comprise further fixed or movable roof elements.

[0013] Fig. 1 shows the two roof elements 1, 2 in their closed position; in Fig. 2 the front element 1 is shown to have been moved upwards at its rear side, so that a ventilating position of the front roof element is created. In Fig. 3, the front roof element is shown in a rearwardly moved position, whereas the rear roof element 2 is shown in a ventilating position, in which it slopes upwards to the rear.

[0014] The open roof construction according to the invention is mounted in a fixed roof 3 of the vehicle, in particular a passenger car. Fixed roof 3 is formed with a roof opening for the open roof construction, which is mounted in the fixed roof 3 by means of a frame 4 which forms the stationary part of the open roof construction. The open roof construction may also be integrated in the fixed roof 3 of the vehicle.

[0015] In the illustrated embodiment, frame 4 comprises a central beam 5 extending in transverse direction, which separates a front opening 6 and a rear opening 7. Front opening 6 can be closed by means of front roof element 1, whereas the rear roof element 2 is capable of closing and at least partially releasing rear opening 5. Central beam 3 is provided with a front roller curtain 8 and a rear roller curtain 9 in the illustrated embodiment, which function to prevent the incidence of sunlight through the opening 4, 5 in question.

[0016] Figs. 4 - 6 show the operating mechanisms for the two roof elements 1, 2, viz. a front operating mechanism 10 for the front roof element 1 and a rear operating mechanism 11 for the rear roof element 2. Said operating mechanisms 10 and 11 are present on both longitudinal sides of passages 6 and 7. Only the parts present on one of the longitudinal sides will be discussed hereafter, whereby it should be considered that comparable parts will be present in mirror image thereof on the other longitudinal side.

[0017] In addition to a vertically adjustable front support 12, said front operating mechanism 10 comprises a supporting device mounted in the rear part of the front roof element 1, in this case in the form of a lifting device 13 for adjusting the rear side of roof element 1 for height. Besides said lifting device 13, the front operating mechanism 10 comprises a separate guiding device 14 in this embodiment, which is fixedly or adjustably (in this embodiment) connected to the front roof element 1 and which is fitted with a sliding shoe 15. In rearwardly moved positions of the front roof element 1, said sliding shoe can come into contact with a rear longitudinal guide 16, which is present on each longitudinal side of the rear roof element 2, under the side edge thereof in this embodiment. Rear longitudinal guide 16 is so configured that the sliding shoe 15 is retained at least in upward direction, whereas it is furthermore guided on one side, or on both sides.

[0018] Several embodiments of the front operating mechanism 10 are possible. The illustrated operating mechanism 10 corresponds in large measure with the operating mechanism according to Dutch patent application no. 1016489, whose contents are considered to be incorporated herein by reference.

[0019] The only thing that is mentioned about the front operating mechanism 10 herein is that an adjusting element, which is movable in longitudinal direction by means of an operating element which is actuated from the drive unit, is mounted under the front roof element 1, which adjusting element is capable of actuating the guiding device for the purpose of moving the guiding device into and out of engagement with the rear longitudinal guide. Preferably, the rear roof element 2 has at least substantially the same transverse dimension as the front roof element 1. In that case the adjusting element is preferably so constructed that the guiding device, or the sliding shoe thereon, is capable of making a lateral movement upon moving into and out of engagement with the rear longitudinal guide 16. This is not necessary, for example, when the guiding device of the front roof element 1 is disposed far outwards in lateral direction, in the wet part of frame 4. In this embodiment the guiding device can be a support which is fixedly or movably connected to the roof element 1, for example a fixed support fitted with a sliding shoe or a lever fitted with one or two sliding shoes.

[0020] In the illustrated embodiment, the rear longitudinal guide 16 has an entry and exit opening 17 on its front side, via which the sliding shoe 15 can enter and exit the rear longitudinal guide. Said opening 17 is positioned close to a front support, in this case a pivot 18, of the rear roof element 2, so that the opening 17 will hardly move, if at all, upon pivoting of the rear roof element. This enables the sliding shoe 15 to enter and exit the rear longitudinal guide 16 in every position of the rear roof element 2. It is also possible, of course, to keep the entry and exit opening 17 of the rear longitudinal guide 16 in position by means of a compensating device during pivoting movement of the rear roof element 2.

[0021] In this embodiment, rear operating mechanism 11 is in the form of a linkage mechanism comprising a lifting lever 19 and an auxiliary lever 20. At its upper end, lifting lever 19 is pivotally connected to the rear roof element 2, and at its lower it is pivotally connected to a pin 21 and slidably connected to a slot 22 of a driving slide 23. Auxiliary lever 20 is connected to frame 4 by means of a stationary hinge 24 at its lower end, and at its upper end it is connected to lifting lever 19, between the ends thereof, by means of a hinge 35. Rear operating mechanism 11 is fitted with a constraining guide, which comprises an actuating slot 26 formed in driving slide 23 and an actuating pin 27 formed on lifting lever 19. It is also possible to use other types of operating mechanisms, of course.

[0022] Driving slide 23 is movable by means of a driving element, such as a driving cable 28 of sufficient compressive and tensile strength, which can be operated either manually or electrically and which may have its own operating mechanism or which may be fixedly connected to or be capable of being connected to the operating mechanism of the front roof element 1.

[0023] Roof elements 1 and 2 can be moved in the desired manner by means of said operating mechanisms 10, 11. In principle, it is also possible to arrange the operating mechanisms in such a manner that the two roof elements are interlocked to form one unit in the rearmost position of the front roof element 1 (relative to the rear roof element 2) and in the uppermost position of the rear roof element 2, after which they are jointly moved further to the rear, for example to a position above the rear window of the vehicle, in particular the passenger car.

[0024] From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides an open roof construction which provides a great many opening and ventilating possibilities, and which furthermore prevents undesirable booming effects. Furthermore it is possible to configure the roof elements 1, 2 as roof elements which extend flush with the fixed roof or roof elements of a different type, so that the vehicle roof is given an attractive appearance.

[0025] The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment as described above and shown in the drawing, which can be varied in several ways without departing from the scope of the claims. Thus it is possible to fit the front roof element with a supporting or lifting device comprising an integrated guiding device, in such a manner that said supporting or lifting device can be moved to the rear into the rear longitudinal guide of the rear roof element. It is also possible not to move the front roof element to a ventilating position first and subsequently to the rear, but to move it only upwards to such an extent that rearward movement is directly possible. In that case a separate ventilating position can be created with a different operation of the lifting device, if desired. Furthermore it is possible to have the guiding device of the front element engage continuously with the rear longitudinal guide of the rear roof element. Instead of the movement to the ventilating position, or in addition thereto, the rear roof element could also make other movements, such as a forward or rearward movement.

Claims

1. An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof (3), comprising a stationary part (4) to be attached to the vehicle roof and a front roof element (1) which is movably supported by said stationary part and which can be adjusted by means of a driving unit, as well as a rear roof element (2) which is positioned rearwards thereof, wherein said front roof element is movable between a closing position, in which the roof opening is closed, and an open, rearward position at least partially above the rear roof element, in which the roof opening in front of the rear roof element is at least partially released, wherein said stationary part is fitted with at least one front longitudinal guide extending along the roof opening, whereas a rear longitudinal guide (16) is mounted at the location of the rear roof element, wherein the front roof element is supported near its front side by a front support which is movably supported in said front longitudinal guide, and which is supported rearwards thereof by a supporting device (10) comprising a guiding device (14) for engagement in said rear longitudinal guide upon rearward movement of the front roof element, characterized in that said rear longitudinal guide (16) is mounted on the rear roof element (2), which is fitted with a rear operating mechanism (11) for moving the rear roof element to at least a ventilating position, in which it slopes upwards to the rear, wherein the rear operating mechanism can preferably be operated while the guiding device (14) of the front roof element (1) is positioned in said rear longitudinal guide.

2. An open roof construction according to claim 1, wherein said rear longitudinal guide (16) is present on both lateral edges of the rear roof element (2).

3. An open roof construction according to claim 2, wherein the rear roof element (2) comprises a panel, wherein the rear longitudinal guide (16) is positioned under said panel.

4. An open roof construction according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said supporting device (10) is fitted with an operating mechanism, which supports the front roof element (1) at least in front positions thereof, whereas the guiding device (14) is movable in the rear longitudinal guide (16), supporting the front roof element in rearward positions thereof.

5. An open roof construction according to claim 4, wherein the guiding device (14) is out of engagement with the rear longitudinal guide (16) in the closed position of the front roof element (1), and wherein said guiding device (14) is brought into engagement with the rear longitudinal guide, via a front opening (17) thereof, upon adjustment by the front operating mechanism (10).

6. An open roof construction according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear operating mechanism (11) and a front support (18) of the rear roof element (2) are so constructed that the front opening (17) of the rear longitudinal guide (16) remains at least substantially stationary upon pivoting of the rear roof element.

7. An open roof construction according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear operating mechanism (11) is fitted with a linkage mechanism, which preferably comprises a lifting lever (19), which extends between a driving slide (23) and the rear roof element (2), and an auxiliary lever (20), which extends between said lifting lever and a longitudinal guide.

8. An open roof construction according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front longitudinal guide continues to the rear, at least as far as the rear height adjusting mechanism (11) of the rear roof element (2).

9. An open roof construction according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an adjusting element, which is movable in longitudinal direction by means of an operating element which is actuated from the drive unit, is mounted under the front roof element (1), which adjusting element is fitted with said guiding device (14) and which is arranged for moving said guiding device into and out of engagement with the rear longitudinal guide.

10. An open roof construction according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear roof element (2) has at least substantially the same transverse dimension as the front roof element (1).

11. An open roof construction according to claim 10, wherein the adjusting element is constructed such that the guiding device (14) is capable of making a lateral movement upon moving into and out of engagement with the rear longitudinal guide (16).

Drawing